Re: beet pulp and grass

[Susan Evans Garlinghouse <suendavid@worldnet.att.net>]

Hi Kathy,

Beet pulp would be okay at the rides, with a few cautions.  Beet pulp is
higher in total energy (calories) than is grass, is about the same in
protein content (if you compared them on a dry-weight basis)(and
depending on the exact composition of your pasture) and the mineral
content is probably in the ballpark.  However, beet pulp is still a
different feed from the grass your horses are used to, and could
potentially cause some digestive upset _if_ they didn't get it at home.
So just make sure your horses get some on a fairly regular basis at
home, so the GI tract is used to it---then you can feed it as a mash at
rides (in larger quantities would be okay), along with the hay, and
fresh grass if you can find it. 

Hope this answers your question?  Good luck!

Susan Garlinghouse

Kathy wrote:
> 
> Does anyone know how beep pulp compares to grass?  My horses are used to
> eating mostly grass and when I go on rides grass is not always available.
> Would wet beep pulp be a good substitute?  They don't like it real well but
> will eat it at home ok and if I put some oats in it will eat it on the rides.
> I've been keeping them off pasture and feeding them hay half the day so they
> will be used to eating some hay and not all grass.  Our pastures are clover
> and fescue with some bermuda and orchard grass.  I just don't want to cause
> any digestive upsets if I can prevent it.  Thanks to those of you who offered
> suggestions for my horse's drinking problems.  While I haven't solved them yet
> he is doing better.  Thanks to all the ride managers who furnish stock tanks
> in camp!  My horses drink really well out of those!!  Happy Trails,  Kathy
> Fox and Trav